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Published: Tuesday, 18 October 2022 13:57
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Crescent Moon Quartet Sculpture - Lakeside Park
The Crescent Moon Quartet® Sculpture is located in Lakeside Park (1401 Lake Avenue) near the intersection of Lake Avenue and California Avenue. The sculpture was commissioned by the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission as part of a $50,000 contribution from the Northeast Quadrant Investing in Neighborhoods Now Committee to install public art in the Northeast Quadrant of Fort Wayne.
A Selection committee was appointed by the Public Art Commission in September 2021. After issuing and evaluating responses from a survey of northeast quadrant residents in early 2022, the Committee recommended that funds be dedicated to the development of a public art sculpture in Lakeside and Shoaff Parks. After reviewing several proposals by local and regional artists, the proposal by artist Jim Merz was recommended by the Selection Committee and approved by the Public Art Commission and the Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners. Learn more about the artist HERE.
According to artist Jim Merz, the design uses a series of crescent moon shapes to demarcate space and time. The subtle movement of the elements call attention to the passage of time and the importance of human interactions with the natural world. The crescent moon shaped elements are attached to pivots that allow them to move in the wind. These movements will be small and slow, creating an effected that the moons are floating. The sculpture dimensions are 17 feet high by 6 feet wide.
The sculpture was installed in September 2024 and dedicated on October 1, 2024.
| Sculpture Fabrication and Installation |
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Mystery of Continuity and Change - Shoaff Park
The Mystery of Continuity and Change® Sculpture is located in Shoaff Park (6401 St Joe Road) in the southwest area of the park. The sculpture was commissioned by the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission as part of a $50,000 contribution from the Northeast Quadrant Investing in Neighborhoods Now Committee to install public art in the Northeast Quadrant of Fort Wayne.
A Selection committee was appointed by the Public Art Commission in September 2021. After issuing and evaluating responses from a survey of northeast quadrant residents in early 2022, the Committee recommended that funds be dedicated to the development of a public art sculpture in Lakeside and Shoaff Parks. After reviewing several proposals by local and regional artists, the proposal by artist Jim Merz was recommended by the Selection Committee and approved by the Public Art Commission and the Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners. Learn more about the artist HERE.
According to artist Jim Merz, the sculpture embodies the tension between being at rest and the joy of being active in the natural environment. When at rest it's easy to forget the simple, life affirming pleasures of trees and grass, wind and water. Powered by the wind, the top circular element spins and the top rectangular element will rock back and forth like a pendulum keeping time. Seeing the sculpture respond to the wind reminds us to be active, to engage in life with nature and friends. The sculpture dimensions are 17 feet high by 5 feet wide.
The sculpture was installed in September 2024 and dedicated on October 1, 2024.
| Sculpture Fabrication and Installation |
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Downtown Public Art Trail SoundWalk
The Downtown Public Art Trail SoundWalk is a dynamic walking trail of public art that is guided and enhanced by music and narration accessed by a free mobile application that heightens the listener's experience. The music is uniquely composed by local musicians and composers to connect each public art location and will change based on the time of day and the weater. Each location also has narration that describes the origin and story of each piece. The SoundWalk was developed by Kurt Roembke in partnership with the Public Art Commission.
The artists selected by Roembke to perform and participate in the creation of the Downtown Public Art Trail SoundWalk application include Derek Reeves, Erica Anderson-Senter, Metavari, Noah Compodonico, HQ the Producer, Know No Other, Sankofa, Tesla Chapman, and Alondra Araujo-Ruiz.
The trail includes the following locations:
- Pillars of Hope and Justice Monument at the northeast corner of West Main Street and Ewing Street
- City Roundabout at West Superior Street, Ewing Street, and Fairfield Avenue
- Convergence at Promenade Park
- Foliatum at Headwaters Park West
- Hamilton Sisters at Headwaters Park East
- Little Turtle at Headwaters Park East
- Hemholtz at Friemann Square Park
- Various outdoor Sculptures at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art
- Metaform sculpture and mural at East Columbia Street and St Joseph Boulevard
- The 4th Street Graffiti Wall at the St Mary's Pathway west of Spry Run Avenue
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| Each location has a sign with a QR code that directs participants to the SoundWalk mobile application. |
The SoundWalk was dedicated on June 5, 2024, at the Pillars of Hope and Justice Monument, which marks the trail's starting point. The dedication was held on the first anniversary of the monument's dedication in 2023. |
Pillars of Hope and Justice - Martin Luther King Jr. Public Monument
Click HERE for information on the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Monument.
Faces of the Fort Public Art Initiative
Click HERE for information on the Faces of the Fort Public Art Initiative.
Five Point Spin - Five Points Roundabout Sculpture
Five Point Spin is a sculpture located in the center of the roundabout at Goshen and Sherman Roads in northwest Fort Wayne. The project was funded by Fort Wayne Public Works and Northwest Quadrant Investing in Neighborhoods Now Funds dedicated by the Northwest Area Partnership.
At the request of the City of Fort Wayne Public Works Department, the Public Art Commission formed a selection committee. After reviewing several submissions, the committee recommended and the Public Art Commission approved Susan Zoccola’s Five Point Spin sculpture.
The "5 Point Spin" sculpture, designed by artist Susan Zoccola, is a wheel-inspired sculptural "tree" that stands 24-feet tall and 21-feet wide. The sculpture includes three 12-foot branches that contain 15 spoke wheels reminiscent of automobile wheels from the early 1900s. The wheels are brightly colored and of varying sizes. The largest wheels are 6-feet in diameter. The sculpture serves as a tribute to the historic Lincoln Highway and motorists who have travelled through the intersection over the last 100 years. Goshen Avenue was once part of the Lincoln Highway until 1928. Learn more about Susan Zoccola at HERE.
The sculpture was installed in late September 2022. Lighting and landscape elements were installed in June 2023.
| Sculpture Fabrication and Installation |
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Nebraska Neighborhood Mural
The Nebraska Neighborhood mural is on the east façade of 1804 W. Main St. This piece was designed to embody and celebrate the Nebraska Neighborhood’s rich history. Themes incorporated into the work include Kekionga Baseball team, The Wayne Knitting Mills, Camp Allen, Jaenicke Gardens, and Swinney Park. The muralist was chosen through an open call for artists.
The muralist, Jeff Pilkinton, lived close to Nebraska Neighborhood as a child. Pilkinton is an established chalk-artist, street painter, and muralist based in Fort Wayne. Learn more about the artist at HERE.
The project was made possible with the support of the Nebraska Neighborhood Association, Chris Shatto, Matt Momper, and the building owner Frank Casagrande. It was funded by the City of Fort Wayne’s Investing in Neighborhoods Now funds dedicated to the Public Art Commission by the Northwest Area Partnership.
| Images of the Mural in Progress |
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